Opportunities for Bears with '999' concept

Tall receivers Marshall and Jeffery can burn Vikings on high throws from McCown in red zone

November 28, 2013|Matt Bowen | Scouting the Bears

The Bears and quarterback Josh McCown can challenge the Vikings defense Sunday in the high red zone with vertical concepts that force the top of the secondary to play with technique and discipline.

Using the All-22 coaches tape, let's break down how Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson beat the Vikings Cover-2 defense for a touchdown in Week 11 on the "999" route concept.

The "999" concept is four verticals from a 3-by-1 alignment designed to target both Cover-2 and Cover-3. Here, the Seahawks have their Posse (or 11) personnel on the field (three wide receivers, one tight end, one running back) in a Doubles Slot alignment versus the Vikings base nickel sub package (five defensive backs) playing Cover-2 in the secondary.

The cornerbacks are going to force an inside release to take some stress off the safeties and sink under the outside 9 (fade) routes. However, with two verticals to the closed (strong) side of the formation, Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo has to play with enough depth to get over the top of receiver Doug Baldwin on the outside 9 route.

Rookie cornerback Xavier Rhodes trails versus Baldwin on the 9 route with Sendejo on his Cover-2 landmark (top of the numbers). The Vikings safety is in the proper position to drive top-down on the inside seam or take an angle over the top versus Baldwin.

And with the nickel back sinking under the inside seam to cushion the middle of the field, Sendejo has an opportunity to make a play on the 9 route once Wilson targets Baldwin outside of the numbers.

Even with the Vikings forcing an inside release versus Baldwin — and playing the proper techniques of the defense — they get beat because of the throw from Wilson. The Seahawks quarterback fits this throw in between the safety and cornerback while putting the ball up high so Baldwin can climb the ladder for six points.

The Bears should expect to see Cover-2 from the Vikings on third-and-long situations plus inside the 20-yard line. And the "999" concept is just one way McCown can attack the two-deep shell with both Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery.

Twitter @MattBowen41

Special contributor Matt Bowen spent seven seasons in the NFL as a strong safety. He covers the NFL for Bleacher Report.